PSYC 3390 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Psychopathology, Outline Of Health Sciences, Abnormal Psychology

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3390
• Professor: Margaret Lumley

Document Summary

We will begin by defining our topic, which brings us to our first controversy. Establishing a benchmark for what is considered normal or abnormal seems quite contrary to our current social values of tolerance, diversity and individual differences. Yet all "differences" occur on a continuum of adaptation. "differences" can become debilitating problems and can cause great suffering. Consider the case of someone who is very organized and tidy an admirable trait in an employee or roommate. At a moderate level this obsession can cause relationship and employment difficulties. At a severe level, the person"s survival is threatened because they cannot tolerate the asymmetry of the outside world and so will not leave their rigidly ordered house. But our "comfort" is not the main issue. Sometimes basic functioning, safety, or survival is at stake and a great deal of suffering can be involved. When these are the factors, most people agree that intervention is appropriate.